The Amity Weekly Minute: March 8, 2026
What's New?
From the Desk of Mrs. Warman
Dear Amity Families,
It’s hard to believe that we are already heading into the last week of the third quarter! The school year continues to move quickly, and we are proud of the hard work our students have shown throughout this quarter.
As a reminder, there will be no school for students on Friday, March 13, as our teachers will be participating in professional development and completing student records. School will resume for students on Monday, March 16.
This week, our sixth grade students participated in a creative literacy project. Students selected a book to read and created “Book T-Shirts” highlighting key literary elements they have been studying, including characters, setting, theme, and important events. Their decorated shirts are now displayed throughout the sixth grade hallway, creating a colorful showcase of reading and serving as book recommendations for students of all ages to enjoy. It has been wonderful to see their creativity and love of reading on display!
Thank you for all you do each day to support our students and our school community. I look forward to another great week of learning at Amity.
Warm regards,
Laura Warman
|
|
Amity Weekly Photo Gallery
This is the Amity Weekly Photo Gallery
Full Gallery
|
|
Friday March 13th No School
There will be no school for students on Friday, March 13, as teachers will be participating in a professional development day and completing student records.
|
|
Amity Counselor Newsletter
|
|
Deer Park Schools Begins Celebrating Bicentennial
Deer Park Community City Schools is proud to announce the beginning of its Bicentennial Celebration, marking 200 years since the founding of the district in 1826.
The district’s history traces back to Daniel Schenck, an early pioneer who donated a portion of his farmland so a school could be built for children in the growing community. The log schoolhouse that opened in 1826 was named Amity, meaning friendship, and it became the foundation for what would grow into Deer Park Community City Schools.
Visit the Bicentennial Website
Throughout the coming months, the district will begin sharing pieces of its history through “Throwback Thursday” features, highlighting important moments, artifacts, and stories from the past two centuries of education in Deer Park.
These historical highlights will lead up to the district’s Bicentennial Celebration Week beginning October 4, culminating with the Homecoming football game on October 9. Additional events and activities will be announced as planning continues.
As part of the celebration, the district is also unveiling its official Bicentennial logo (shown above).
The logo is inspired by one of the district’s oldest known artifacts — the historic Amity School bell — which represents the earliest days of education in the community. Four stars accompany the bell, symbolizing the district’s historic school buildings and namesakes:
-
Amity Elementary
-
Deer Park Jr./Sr. High School
-
Holmes Elementary
-
Howard Elementary
The bold Bicentennial banner and the years 1826-2026 recognize the district’s milestone of two centuries of public education.
Community members, alumni, and supporters are encouraged to stay connected as the celebration approaches by signing up for Bicentennial updates on the district website.
Sign Up Here
Don't Trash It, Donate It Instead!
Deer Park Schools is also asking alumni and community members to help preserve the district’s history. If you have Deer Park memorabilia — such as yearbooks, photographs, letterman jackets, uniforms, or other school items — please consider donating them back to the district so they can be featured during bicentennial celebrations.
Alumni & Community Story Submission
As Deer Park Schools prepares to celebrate its 200th Anniversary in 2026, we are collecting memories, photos, and memorabilia from alumni and community members to help tell the story of Deer Park Schools.
If you have a favorite memory, historic photo, or item connected to Deer Park Schools, we would love to hear from you.
Your submission may be featured in Bicentennial displays, district publications, social media features, or community events throughout the celebration.
Additional details about events, alumni engagement opportunities, and historical highlights will be announced in the coming months as Deer Park Schools prepares to celebrate 200 years of inspiring and empowering lifelong success!
Submit a Story
Click to edit this placeholder text.
|
|
Kindergarten Registration for 2026-2027 is Now Open!
It's that time again. Kindergarten Registration is officially open for the 2026-27 school year!
In an effort to make this process as easy as possible, we have created a page on our website to walk you step-by-step through registration. This page will serve as your guide for registration.
As a reminder, the Deer Park Board Policy on registering for Kindergarte
If you ever have any issues, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at hollander.b@dpccsd.org or d
Visit the Registration Page
Important Dates to Know:
In-Person Kindergarten Registration Days
-
Monday, March 16, 2026 | 8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
-
Wednesday, March 18, 2026 | 7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Kindergarten Screeners
All screeners will be held at Amity Elementary on the following dates:
-
Monday, May 4, 2026 | 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
-
Tuesday, May 5, 2026 | 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
-
Wednesday, May 6, 2026 | 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
|
|
Amity Yearbooks available for order
|
|
March Lunch Menu
Due to supply issues, lunch menu options change frequently based on availability. The most up-to-date menu is below, however, please continue to check the Deer Park Food Services website for the latest information.
Visit the Website
|
|
Looking Ahead
Please mark these important dates on your calendar:
- 6th Grade Band/Choir Winter Concert: Thursday, March 12 | 6:30 p.m.
|
|
In Case You Missed It
|
|
Breakthrough Cincinnati: Academic Enrichment Program
Breakthrough Cincinnati (BTC) is a four-year, tuition-free academic enrichment program designed to energize students to enter college with confidence.
What can families expect?
-
A four-year program beginning the summer before 6th grade, but students can apply entering any grade between entering 6th graders and entering 9th grade
-
Tuition-free academic-focused summer and school year programs, including meals, field trips, and supplies.
-
Year-round support including monthly college and career enrichment, weekly tutoring, and continued college-focused support throughout high school.
-
Mentoring from college-aged role models (Teaching Fellows) and a network of like-minded peers.
-
Summer Program Dates: June 29, 2026–July 31, 2026 (excludes July 3). A typical day runs from 9 AM to 4 PM. Transportation to and from the program is included.
- Who does BTC prioritize? BTC prioritizes students who are:
-
First Generation College Students
-
From Single Parent Households
-
Low Income
-
Students currently in 5th or 6th grade who aspire to attend college are prioritized to apply, and students currently in 7th and 8th grade may also apply. There is a request to continue the program through its entirety for 4 years if you begin in grade 6.
To Apply: Visit breakthroughcincinnati.org.
|
|
Student Safety Reminder
As we move into the winter months and the mornings become darker, we want to remind everyone to be extra cautious during arrival and dismissal times. Please be mindful of our students walking to and from school and drive slowly when entering or exiting the Amity parking lot. Just a reminder that the main driveway entrance off of Galbraith becomes a Do Not Enter zone after 7:30 AM. This helps ensure the safety of students and staff in that area. Thank you for your continued attention to keeping all of our Wildcats safe!
|
|
Recess During Cold Weather
With a return to colder temperatures, please remember to send your child to school with appropriate outdoor attire for recess. We will be going outside whenever the “feels like” temperature is 25 degrees or above. This gives our students time to burn some energy while getting some fresh air. Our recesses are 20-30 minutes so it is important that our students be comfortable while they are outside.
|
|
Sick Guidelines Reminder
Cold and flu season is here! Please review our Sick Guidelines to know when your child should stay home—especially for symptoms like fever, vomiting/diarrhea, flu/COVID-like illness, strep throat, pinkeye, and other contagious conditions. If a student becomes ill at school, families will be asked to pick them up.
Thank you for helping keep our classrooms healthy and ready for learning!
Click the link below to view the full Sick Guidelines document.
View Here
|
|
Amity Elementary Community Resources
Click Here
|
|
FinalForms
We will continue to utilize FinalForms in an effort to help simplify your life! Please login to FinalForms at https://deerpark-oh.finalforms.com to update any new information or to confirm that there are no changes for the 2025-26 school year. If you do not have a home computer, please use one of Amity’s computers during the Meet and Greet located in the PDC or visit the local library where computers are available for public use.
|
|
Schoology
The Schoology Learning Management System offers a tremendous amount of information in a user friendly version. You will be able to communicate with your child’s teachers, check homework and grades, and find teacher resources through teacher Schoology pages.
Schoology Link
|
|
2025-26 PDF District Calendar
Each year, the Deer Park Board of Education approves the district's yearly calendar, which can be found on the Deer Park Schools website. This calendar includes official school dates, holidays, and breaks. Additionally, a printed event calendar will be sent home with your student during the first week of school. For your convenience, you can access the PDF calendar using the link provided below.
View the Calendar
|
|
Staying Connected
There are multiple ways to stay connected to Amity Elementary School.
- Email Newsletter: All parents who have completed FinalForms should receive Amity Weekly Newsletters. If you are not currently receiving them, please register for the email communication. To register, simply go to www.deerparkcityschools.org and click on the button on the bottom of the page that says “Subscribe to District News”. From there, you will send an email requesting that you be added to future email communication from the district.
- X: Follow Deer Park Schools for the most up-to-date news and happenings at @DeerParkSchools or @DeerParkAmity
- Facebook: follow us at Deer Park Community City Schools.
|
|
--
Inspiring & Empowering Lifelong Success
--